Would you buy a bike with a test ride?

[msjhes2]

I am looking to get a new second hand bike and I notice on auto trader almost every where offers home delivery.

 

Would I be crazy to buy a bike that way?   Or should I wait for everything to return to normal and I can visit the dealers ?

 

 

[Six30]

ive bought loads of bikes with out test riding them... some people wouldn't dream of it , all depends on how picky one is .

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

My dad never test rides his bikes. I don’t get it but that’s probably because I can’t cos I’m too short and need to sit on the bike to know if it’s going to be a good fit. 

[manxie49]

Mostly I test ride, but I have bought bikes without doing so,  if you’re happy and satisfied that it’s right for you then I don’t see a problem

[Bender]

I have and would again

[Gerontious]

Didn’t test ride my bike and I bought it brand new!! 

reason, they only had the standard bike available and I couldn’t be bothered travelling to ride one the same as I was buying. So, my test ride happened as I rode the bike away from the dealers for the very first time!

 

I did sit on one in the dealership though. Does that count?

[elizabethf]

i havent test ridden any of my big bikes lol! only my 125. 

[S-Westerly]

Never test rode my current bike which I bought from new. My test ride was driving it home from Central London to Gloucestershire- quite an experience!

[bonio]

Only bought one bike without a test ride - a GSX-R600. Lovely, lovely bike. But I only had it a year. I had to get rid of it cos it killed me neck.

[Stu]

I bought my FJR without a test ride! 

 

Still got it 6 years later 

[husoi]

Never did and personally don't see the point. But I understand those who say they "have" to.

 

 A good "sharp eye" walk around and hearing the engine running will be good enough. If you know what you need to look for, things like oil leaks, loose or badly fit parts will show how much the bike has been tempered with and if who did it knew what was doing.

operating the brakes and clutch is also a good idea. the age of brake/clutch fluids will be a good indicator of how well the bike was cared for. level of brake/clutch fluid will give you an idea of how close pads are from end of life.

If the engine is hot when you arrive just walk away. If a bike needs warmed up before showing there is definitely something wrong with it.

[Ian Frog]

Mixture for me.

ZRX new from dealer no test ride and still got it nearly 16 years on.

Busa secondhand 2 year ago no test ride I have ridden quite a few Busas and know what they are like and this one was cosseted and lived in the guys lounge ffs lol.

Harley last year yes I took it for quite a long ride as I wanted to be sure it was right for me especially as it was going to involve a 300 mile ride home if I bought it. Happy to say it was fine.

Over the years I have owned dozens and probably test rode about half so you pays yer money as they say.

Cheers

Ian

[KiwiBob]

Never test ridden any bike I've bought .. mainly because I only buy very cheap bikes. .. I did get the owner of one to ride it up and down the road first though.

 

If I was spending a lot of money I think I might just want a ride to see if I liked it.

 

Edited March 11, 2021 by KiwiBob

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I bought my CBF without a test ride but I had had the CB version before so I knew it would suit me as a workhorse. I did check it over thoroughly though before agreeing to buy it.

 

The Bobber I tested as I had spent ages looking at bikes I thought I liked but when I got on them found I hated them or they just weren't quite right. Actually I could only test the Bobber Black which doesn't handle quite as well as the Bobber but it was enough to know what I needed to know.

 

Much depends how sure you are that it's the right bike for you, and how well you trust the dealer. There are some companies I wouldn't buy from without being very careful.

 

 

[Mr Fro]

I've bought bikes without a test ride but none of them were keepers - well, apart from the track/turbo bike.

 

The guy who bought my goldwing refused my offer of a test ride which I though was odd - instead he made me take him round the block as pillion!

[jedibiker]

I didnt test ride mine but checked it over for the usual. But buying and having it delivered would worry me unless its from a dealer who would have to take the bike back if the clutch was knackered etc.

Ive always test drove cars and ones ive liked I hated once drove. I think with bikes you need to at least sit on it, hear it, look it over. I took my mrs to view a couple of bikes, one looked nice but sounded shit when we saw it.

[geofferz]

Yep - both

 

Funnily all the bikes I did test ride at dealers (959, f3, 765) I ended up not buying. Weird. 

Edited March 12, 2021 by geofferz